Recap: Colorado vs. Houston

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - J.D. Martinez knocked in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, as Houston used a late charge to take down Colorado, 6-3, in the opener of a two-game interleague set from Coors Field.

Carlos Pena homered and Brandon Barnes added an RBI single in a big ninth inning for the Astros, who have won two of three in this four-game grouping against Colorado.

"The three runs in the ninth were huge in this ballpark. Guys did a great job, " Astros manager Bo Porter said.

Troy Tulowitzki finished with three hits including a pair of solo homers and drove in all three runs for the Rockies, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

"This is a good team who can really put some runs on the boards. It's just not happening right now," Colorado outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said.

Edgmer Escalona (1-2) was charged with the lead run in his 1 1/3 frames.

Ahead by a run in their final turn at the plate, Houston wrapped up the game with a three-run outburst.

Pena began the frame with his fourth homer of the season to make it 4-2 for the visitors, then Trevor Crowe bunted his way on and two batters later pinch- hitter Jimmy Paredes singled to put runners on the corners. Marwin Gonzalez then reached first on his attempted sacrifice to score Crowe, and a Barnes base hit brought in Paredes for a four-run bulge.

Tulowitzki's one-out solo shot was the only Rockies answer in the home ninth.

The Astros got on the board in the second, as Martinez led off with a single, Chris Carter doubled and the former scored on a Matt Dominguez fly to left.

Tulowitzki's homer in the bottom of the fourth tied the game, and his fifth- inning double brought home Jordan Pacheco.

Houston struck back in the sixth, as Barnes reached on an infield hit, Jose Altuve added a single to left and Jason Castro's fly to left brought in Barnes.

The visitors then forged ahead in the eighth. Gonzalez hit a leadoff single against Escalona, was sacrificed to second by Barnes and after Altuve was intentionally walked, Rex Brothers entered the game. He gave up the lead when Martinez laced a pitch to center.

Game Notes

Houston improved to 7-16 on the road ... Astros starter Erik Bedard gave up
seven hits and two runs over six innings, while Rockies hurler Tyler Chatwood
allowed four hits and a pair of runs while striking out a career-high 10
batters over his six full frames ... Tulowitzki's last multi-homer game
occurred on Aug. 27, 2011 against Los Angeles ... Prior to the contest, the
Rockies optioned outfielder Charlie Blackmon to Colorado Springs (PCL) and
recalled pitcher Rob Scahill from Colorado Springs.